Alphabet Team
Collaborative Skill: Working together on tasks
Focus: Being a team member, cooperation, collaboration
Materials: Alphabet Sheets, pen and paper for each person, flip chart and markers
Sequence: Problem Solving
Suggested Procedure
1. Break the larger group in smaller groups of five or six people.
2. Make sure each person has a piece of paper and a pen.
3. Tell them that you are going to show them a triangle that contains all the letters of the alphabet, but for only
10 seconds.
4. Their task is to memorize as many as possible in those 10 seconds.
5. They may not write or draw anything while they are being shown the letters, and they may not work
with anyone else. This is to be done individually.
6. Show them the first triangle of letters for 10 seconds.
7. Close it up and indicate that they can start writing.
8. After a moment, show them the letters again and ask them to circle the ones they got correct – to count it as
correct, they must have it in the exact place and order as it is shown.
9. On the flip chart, create a chart like this:
Individual
Group
Team
10. In their groups, have them add up the number correct for each person and divide by the number of people –
get an average number correct.
11. Ask each group to tell you their average, and write it on the flip chart. Make sure you do this in order, so that
you can make comparisons later. Generally you will see numbers between 6 and 10. This is their
individual score (Each small group will have one score – the average. This could be a decimal – e.g. 7.2).
12. Next, have them count how many they got correct as a group. If anyone in their group got a letter correct,
they may count it, but each letter can only be counted once. Numbers usually range between 12 and 16.
13. Write this number next to their corresponding individual scores. This is their group score.
14. Now tell the group that you are going to show them another triangle of letters that looks like the first, but the
letters are in a different order.
15. This time they are allowed to plan together how they want to memorize the letters as a group. You will show
them the first triangle so that they can plan.
16. Give them a minute or so to plan.
17. Remind them that they may not write or draw while you are showing the letters.
18. When everyone is ready, show the second triangle of letters for 10 seconds.
19. After 10 seconds close it and indicate that they may now write.
20. After a moment, show them the letters again and ask them to circle the ones they got correct.
21. As before, have them count the number they got correct as a group, remember to only count each letter once.
22. Ask each group to tell you the number they got correct, and write it on the flip chart next to their corresponding
individual and group numbers. You will generally see numbers between 22 and 26.
23. Look at the numbers and ask the group why they think there was such an improvement. Write down their
answers on the flip chart. Talk about the difference between working as individuals, working as a group and
being a team. What do they think makes a good team? Then connect the idea of teamwork with
collaboration.
Sample Processing Questions
 Why do you think working as a group and working as a team produced different results?
 What is the difference between group and team?
 How can we work well as a team?
©2004 «GreetingLine»
www.goalconsulting.org
Alphabet Sheet #1
Y
O
U
C
K
S
N
X
R
J
B
©2004 «GreetingLine»
D
L
E
Q
M
A
Z
G
T
H
I
F
P
V
W
www.goalconsulting.org
Alphabet Sheet #2
B
R
X
K
N
V
Q
A
U
M
T
©2004 «GreetingLine»
G
O
H
E
P
D
J
F
W
C
L
I
S
Y
Z
www.goalconsulting.org